Pass the salt … and that Van Cleef heirloom bauble, please

This afternoon, Van Cleef & Arpels invited a select group of clients to a luncheon for the first view of the jeweler’s Heritage Collection at its Worth Avenue boutique.

Nicolas Luchsinger, Van Cleef’s v.p. of retail, who is also director of the Heritage Collection, was in from New York to host the event and to talk about a few of the heirloom pieces on display.

In unusual and very trusting fashion (though there was plenty of security detail in the store, so no need to worry too much), placed along the center of the luncheon table and amid the flower arrangements were some of the striking Heritage Collection pieces, which, as Luchsinger informed the group, are all vintage Van Cleef pieces dating from the 1920s through the 1970s.

“All are in perfect condition,” he said. “And original.”

“These are not remakes.”

About 75 pieces were on hand for the Palm Beach luncheon and will remain on display (and available for purchase) in the Worth Avenue store through the end of the week.

The Heritage Collection pieces range in price from about $10,000 to about $600,000.